The U.S. Embassy in Ghana has credited the Cyber Security Authority for its cooperation in a recent cyber fraud crackdown, following Sam George’s challenge to FBI Director Kash Patel over the bureau’s portrayal of the operation without acknowledging Ghanaian authorities’ role.
In a post on X, the embassy described its collaboration with the authority as a source of pride, highlighting the operation against scam compounds as an example of cooperation between the two countries in tackling transnational cybercrime.
“The U.S. Embassy is proud to partner with @CSAGhana and collaborate on strategies to dismantle cyber criminal networks. Disrupting scam compounds highlights one of the many ways the United States and Ghana lead international cooperation efforts,” the embassy wrote.
The statement comes a day after Ghana’s Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, challenged FBI Director Kash Patel over his presentation of the operation as an FBI-led crackdown, arguing that it failed to adequately recognise the contributions of Ghanaian and British authorities.
The Minister maintained that Ghanaian law enforcement and intelligence agencies led the Cyberhunt operations, with primary support from the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Patel had announced the operation as part of the FBI’s global “Operation Blackout”, which targets scam centres accused of defrauding victims, including American citizens.
He initially reported that more than 130 people had been arrested or detained in Ghana, with investigators identifying nearly US$10 million in losses and 89 victims. More than 300 devices were also seized, according to his announcement, which indicated that investigations were continuing.
The operation’s reported arrest figure has since risen to 189. However, Patel’s announcement drew sharp criticism from Ghana’s communications minister, Samuel Nartey George, for failing to acknowledge the contributions of other international agencies that collaborated in the operatio
In his response to Patel, George warned that presenting the crackdown as an exclusively American effort could undermine the cooperation required to combat criminal networks operating across national borders.
“Ghanaian law enforcement and intelligence led the Cyberhunt operations, with primary support from the UK @NCA_UK and the @FBI you lead. To suggest the @FBI acted solely to execute this operation in your tweet undermines the potential for future collaboration,” the minister wrote.
He urged the FBI director to recognise the benefits of continued cooperation between the countries.
The embassy’s latest statement explicitly recognises its partnership with the CSA, although it does not directly address George’s criticism or provide a breakdown of the operational responsibilities of the different agencies involved.
The development highlights the importance of both operational cooperation and public recognition of the institutions involved in international law enforcement efforts, particularly as cybercrime networks increasingly target victims across multiple jurisdictions.
The collaboration between Ghanaian and American authorities has extended beyond the latest crackdown. A day before Patel’s announcement, the CSA hosted a delegation from the United States Department of Justice and the FBI for discussions on strengthening cooperation to identify and dismantle cybercriminal networks.
The CSA has also called for stronger collaboration among regulators, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to respond to the growing cross-border nature of cybercrime.
The authority recorded 3,876 cybersecurity incidents between January and July 2026, with online fraud accounting for about 47 per cent of reported incidents.
In a separate case, US authorities acknowledged the cooperation of Ghana’s Attorney-General’s Office, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service, the CSA, the National Intelligence Bureau and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra in the arrest and extradition of Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi, also known as Abu Trica.
Kumi was extradited to the United States to face charges linked to an alleged romance-fraud network.
The latest exchange underscores the role of international partnerships in tackling cybercrime while highlighting the importance of accurately representing the contributions of national agencies in joint operations.
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